Wonderland Creek, a major tributary of Boulder Creek, meanders through a quiet residential area, creating a central open space corridor. In 1987, maintenance concerns brought this section of the creek to the attention of the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District which then charged Love & Associates, Inc. to design a maintainable trickle channel.

Coincidentally, the City of Boulder planned to begin construction of a bicycle / pedestrian path system which would link the Boulder community through its natural tributary system. The maintenance improvements slated for Wonderland Creek prompted the City of boulder to kick-off the ‘Boulder’s Stream Corridors’ project by integrating maintenance improvements construction with recreation enhancement along Wonderland Creek. As a result, what began as a maintenance improvements project evolved into a unique interagency effort. Love & Associates served as coordinator for the two agencies and as liaison for the homeowners throughout the design and construction process.

Traditionally a maintainable channel has meant a hard-lined channel, yet concern for water quality stemming from non-point source runoff, for preservation of habitat, neighborhood character, and recreation and educational potential forced a fresh perspective on the problem.

The final design of Wonderland Creek is unprecedented in the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District’s jurisdiction. Bio-engineering methods will be used to stabilize the stream and provide erosion protection on the bank. A low, attractive wall will contain a soft-bottom trickle channel which allows wetland vegetation to regenerate naturally. This design simultaneously improves water quality, preserves wetland habitat, and minimizes maintenance by allowing natural sedimentation to occur until design limits require intermittent dredging.

A new 10’ wide bike / pedestrian path, the cornerstone of the Boulder’s Stream Corridors path system, will also provide channel maintenance access. Existing massive concrete drop structures will be replaced with graceful boulder drops, and landscape treatment will accent the channel, provide slope stabilization, and delineate public and private areas to protect the integrity and intimacy of the neighborhood.

The City of Boulder looks to Wonderland Creek as its premiere example for subsequent stream corridor projects.